Week 12 threw everything at the Just One More crew, floods, detours, and bush-toilet mishaps, but Brooke’s mission didn’t budge. If anything, it grew louder.
Melbourne Detour: Family First, Always 👨👩👧👦
The week started on a different kind of high. Brooke made an impromptu trip to Melbourne to celebrate her brother Kamdyn’s 200th AFL game 🏉. Before setting off on this journey, she asked herself, “Would I pause the run if a tragedy happened in my family?”
The answer? 100% yes.
Then came the follow-up: Why wait for a tragedy? Why not pause for celebration too?
With that, the run was temporarily paused and she stayed 16 hours in Melbourne. Because while the pavement will always be there, family memories might not 💛.
Storms & Conversations: A Pause with Purpose ☔🗣️
After Melbourne, the crew rolled into Newcastle — and straight into wild weather. Dan and Jay held it down with her through it all. With storms pounding NSW and flood warnings in full swing, the run was officially paused again.
But Brooke didn’t stop.
Instead of kilometres, she clocked up conversations, visiting Wiripaang Primary School and Novoschool to keep the Just One More message alive. Because even when her feet slow down, the mission doesn’t.
One school, one story, one more conversation at a time 💬.
Flood Devastation Hits Home 💔
From their temporary base in Newcastle, Brooke shared what was unfolding around them:
Taree’s Manning River surged to its highest level since 1929. Over 400 rescues. More than 5,000 properties were damaged. Families stranded. Lives lost. Communities already recovering from 2022’s disasters left battered once again.
The heartbreak hit hard.
During the pause, Brooke posted a powerful Instagram reel with a caption explaining why they had to pause, alongside footage of the floods.
🔗 Watch the Instagram reel
Floods have isolated nearly 49,000 people, inundated homes, and left communities reeling across NSW’s Mid North Coast and Hunter regions. Brooke and her crew extend their deepest condolences to those affected and stand in full support of the families doing it tough 🫂.
If you or someone you know needs support, here are some services that can help:
💙 Lifeline: 13 11 14
💙 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36
💙 13YARN (for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples): 13 92 76
💙 NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511\
Filling Her Cup First: The Friday Reset
The day before returning to the run, Brooke paused again — this time, to reflect and recharge:
Everyday I am grateful
Everyday I am blessed
Everyday I am privileged to be living this life ✨
While I’m out here chasing my dreams — making the world a better place to be, 1 step at a time — communities are CONTINUOUSLY showing up 💙
Reminding me how INCREDIBLE this world is. When you look for blessings — blessings come.
Thank you to the girls at @skintifix for restoring hydration into my skin while we had a little downtime here in Newcastle — filling my self-care cup back up so I can continue to pour into others ✨
Lesson: Showing up for others means making space to care for yourself, too. Recovery isn’t selfish — it’s strategic.
Back on the Road: Slippers, Swims & Bush-Toilet Chaos 🩴🌧️🌿
On Saturday morning at 9:30am, Brooke left Bunnings Heatherbrae, heading northbound to resume her run — and it came back with a bang.
First day back. 50km. And absolute chaos:
The crew had to swim across a waist-deep flooded river, using a rope to guide them through. Brooke literally floated through with soggy slippers and soaked everything 😂.
“I’m swimming in the water to get across the river,” she laughed, dripping wet and still smiling.
The toilet paper crisis struck again — Brooke forgot both the paper and a spare shirt. What followed was some serious bush improvisation that no one’s forgetting anytime soon 💩.
She was caught trying to hide in the bushes again, maybe dodging the camera or avoiding talking about the toilet situation. Classic Brooke.
Mission Still Unshaken 🙌
This journey has always been about more than just running. It’s about showing up for mental health, no matter what.
Brooke didn’t start this run for medals. She started it to start just one more conversation, so no one has to suffer in silence. And nothing, not floods, not mud, not missed toilet paper, can stop that mission 💥.
Support the Cause
Brooke’s still pounding the pavement, rain or shine, because the conversations matter. If you want to support the mission and make an impact:
🔗 https://just-one-more.raiselysite.com